Two basic requirements for the improvement of the present-day
food and nutrition situation in the world, especially in the
developing countries, are knowledge and training. In these
countries malnutrition is largely responsible for high death
rates and high prevalence of disease. In addition, malnutrition
reduces the ability to learn and capacity to work and is a daily
threat to the well being of a large proportion of the population.
There fore, it is not only justified, but also essential, that
people in developing countries become aware of the role of food
and nutrition in health and disease and in economic development.
People should be trained in the science of food and human
nutrition in order to formulate guidelines for nutrition in
economics, agricultural development, and health policies. Each
country should have its own educational structure for training
people in the science of food and human nutrition at various
levels. However, in many developing countries such training,
especially at the advanced level, is still very limited.

In the past decade, international agencies have strongly
supported educational links in this field between developed and
developing countries, especially at the postgraduate and advanced
level. The objectives of these programmes have been mainly
twofold: training in food and nutrition science and development
of cooperation between institutes.

In this paper, a summary is given of international and
regional post-graduate and advanced training programmes in human
nutrition science. It is hoped that this information will be of
use to people in charge of manpower planning and training in
developing countries. The courses listed are mainly job-oriented,
that is, training programmes that will benefit the participants
directly in their work.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

These are a variety of tasks that senior nutrition workers are
expected to undertake, but naturally an individual cannot be
expected to work directly in all fields, Some of these tasks for
which senior nutrition workers should be prepared are set out
below (WHO/ Consultation of Directors of Nutrition Training
Programmes, Geneva, November 1976):

- assessment of the nutritional status of the community;
- identification of the factors responsible for the overall
nutritional status of the community;
- cooperation with colleagues from other disciplines,
including economic planning, community development,
agriculture, and health education;
- stimulation and participation in the development of a food
and nutrition policy at the national level;
- planning, supervision, and evaluation of nutrition
programmes;
- development of focal training programmes in human nutrition
science;
- promotion of teaching of human nutrition science in
universities and medical schools; in most of the activities
mentioned above a research component is included, and
therefore interest in research questions is needed.

The variety of tasks set out above suggests that postgraduate
and advanced training programmes in human nutrition science
should be multidisciplinary in approach. This approach is
supported both by international organizations and by people in
charge of such training programmes.

As participants in these courses come from a wide variety of
academic backgrounds, multidisciplinary courses offer additional
advantages. It may be expected that among the participants, many
of whom are at the middle level in the career structure, there
will be some with experience in certain topics included in the
course. These participants will provide an important extra input
for the course.

ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN HUMAN NUTRITION
SCIENCE

In the following summary of training programmes, information
is included that may be useful in helping prospective
participants, and those responsible for advising them, to select
the course best suited to the candidate's needs in the light of
his or her job require. meets. It can be seen that the actual
number of programmes being offered is somewhat limited, and it
would appear that the great need for training in this area is not
being met.

The distinction between international and regional courses is
made on the basis of those who attend and not on the basis of the
location of the course. Only training programmes in which
nutrition is the main component are listed. This is reflected in
the title in most cases. A number of programmes in related fields
such as health and agriculture have not been listed, as for
example the training programme in child health at the Institute
of Child Health, London, and the training programme in public
health nutrition at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The list is presented in alphabetical order of the country in
which the programme is located. More information on any of the
programmes can be obtained by writing to the author of this
article, address: International Course in Food Science and
Nutrition, Lawickse Allee 11, 6701 AN Wageningen, Netherlands, or
by writing directly to the director or the person in charge of
the particular programme. Those interested in participating in a
particular programme should make application at least six months
before the starting date.

Advanced training
programmes in nutrition science: international

AUSTRALIA

BELGIUM

CHILE

FRANCE

Name

Master of Community Health
(Nutrition)

International Course in Food
Science and Nutrition (ICFSN)/ Cours International sur la
Science de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation (CISNA)

Cooperating institutes are:
University of Queens- land (Australia), United Nations
University-Nutri- tion Center of the Philippines
(Philippines) and the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol
University and Khon Kaen University (Thailand)

The course is jointly
organised by Belgium and the Netherlands Cooperating
institutes: State University Ghent Catholic University
Louvain General Dept. for Development Cooperation
Brussels (AGCD)

The courses are held at the
Instituto de Nutrición y Tecno- logia de los Alimentos
(INTA), Universidad de Chile, in collabora- tion with
United Nations, FAO/PAHO/ WHO, PIA/PNAN (U.N. Inter-
agency Project for Food and Nutrition Planning)

The course is organized at
the CIE (8 weeks on health, nutrition, and food sciences)
and at the Institut Agronomique Mediterraneen (JAM) of
Montpellier (4 weeks on planning aspects), in
collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, the French National
Institute of Agronomy (INAPG) and Food and Nutrition
Research Centre (CNERNA)

Language of Instruction

English

Annually alternating in English and French (e.g.,
1983: French; 1984: English)

Spanish (mastery of English desirable for the
candidates)

French

Intake

Maximum 20 participants

About 25 participants

About 10 - 15 students

22 participants in 1980

Duration

18 months (before 1982, 12
months)

5 - 6 months (mid-January-
July)

Minimum 18 months; maximum
40 months

12 weeks (courses held in
1978 and 1980; will be held once every 3 or 4 years)

Admission Requirements

In addition to a recog-
nised degree in the health, behavioural or agricultural
sciences, candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of
relevant work experience

In addition to a univer-
sity degree (B. Sc.) in chemistry, biology, agronomy,
home economics food technology or nutri- tion or an
equivalent training, some years of relevant work
experience is required

A degree related to
nutrition with at least 8 semesters of training in
natural or mathematics areas related to nutrition

The course is intended for
professionals from such technical minis tries as
Planning, Rural Development, Health and Agriculture

Degree or Diploma Awarded

Master of Community Health
(Nutrition)

Diploma

a) Magister in Human
Nutrition of the University of Chile
b) Magister in Nutrition Planning of the University of
Chile

No

Additional

The course, held since 1979
is financed by the Austral- ian Government through the
Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB).
Fellowships are offered to applicants from developing
countries. The academic programme is held in Australia;
field work is done either in the Philippines or in
Thailand

Via the General Department
for Development Cooperation (AGCD) the Belgian Government
offers fellowships to people from developing countries.
Each year the programme is focused on a specific theme

The INTA was established in
1976. The programme Magister in Food and Nutrition
Planning started in 1977. Both programmes are flexible,
which enables an adaptation to personal interest in-
sofar as the objectives of the training are met

The International Children's
Centre was created by France in 1949 to serve the UN in
the field of maternal and child health. The International
course prepares govern ment officials for the task of
planning and evaluating national food and nutrition
policies and programmes in multi disciplinary teamwork

Advanced training
programmes in nutrition science: international

GHANA

INDIA

THE NETHERLANDS

PHILIPPINES

Name

a) Hunger and Society
b) Hunger and Technology

a) Annual Certificate Course
b) M.&. (Applied Nutrition)

International Course in Food
Science end Nutri- tion (ICFSN)

Advanced Training Programme
in Food and Nutrition Planning and Management for Commu
nity Development

The courses are given at the
University of Ghana Dept. of Nutri- tion and Food Science
in collaboration with other departments and institutes of
the University and the Food Research Insti- tute of the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

The course is held at NIN
WHO, UNICEF and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research
have been supporting these courses

a) At least a master's
degree and employment in organizations con- cerned with
food and nutrition
b) Admission through United Nations Univer- sity
selection

a) Certificate course; open
to persons directly or indirectly associated with nutri-
tion in their profes- signal capacity

In addition to a univer-
sity degree (B.Sc.) in nutrition, food science, or
related field, or an equivalent training, some years of
work experience related to the theme of the course is
required

- at least a college degree
in food and nutrition or any related field ─ holding a
key position that can contribute to the development of
food and nutrition programme in his/her country

Degree or Diploma Awarded

United Nations Univer- sity
certificate of attendance

Certificate awarded by The
National Institute of Nutrition M.Sc degree awarded by
the Osmania University Faculty of Medicine, Hyderabad

Diploma

A certificate of completion

Additional Information

As an Associated Insti-
tution of the United Nations University, the Dept. of
Nutrition and Food Science has designed this programme
since 1981 to give a broad, multi- disciplinary and
mission- oriented training relevant to the solution of
problems of world hunger

The course is open to
candidates from all countries; however, mostly Indian
nationals and people from South-East Asia attend these
courses
-UNICEF provides stipends for all the Indian nationals
- WHO sponsors fellows from various South-East Asian
countries

The course forms part of the
Dutch International Education System, coordin- ated by
NUFFIC The Dutch Government offers a number of
fellowships to participants from developing countries The
course has a practical and multi-disciplinary approach.
The programme is focused on a theme, which is different
each year

The general objective is to
strengthen individual and insti tutional capabilities in
food and nutrition planning and management for community
development Participants will receive a UNU fellowship

All teaching, labora- tory,
and library work is carried out within the University of
London. Field study as part of the 3 - month long
research project is carried out in the U.K.

The courses are given at
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which is
an institute within the University of London. Especially
staff members of the school's Dept. of Human Nutrition
are involved

A number of courses are
offered by the core faculty of the programme. Other
courses are given by staff of Cornell Divis- ion of
Nutrition Sciences and other international groups

The programme is co
sponsored by the MIT Harvard International Nutrition
Planning Programme of the Dept. of Nutrition and Food
Science and the Center for International Studies

A first degree in basic
sciences, including biochemistry and physiology or a
medical or veterinary qualification. Occasional students
who do not meet entry requirements of the M.Sc. course
may be permitted to take the College Diploma in Nutrition

a) For the M.Sc. course:
Graduation in science, social science, or medicine
b) The diploma course has broader entry requirements;
even non-graduates of exceptional merit may be admitted

Baccalaureate degree or
equivalent
Aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (ORE) is
required
Advanced test in chemistry or biology is recommended

Several years of
professional experience

Degree or Diploma Awarded

M.Sc. degree in Nutrition (or in occasional cases a
College Diploma in Nutrition)

A diploma that is a school qualifation M.Sc. degree
of the University of London

Non-degree programmes M.Sc. M.P.S. Ph.D.

No degree

Additional Information

In 1960 the course started
as a diploma course and was changed and lengthened to a
M.Sc. course in 1967 Students are often sponsored by own
govern- ments, WHO, FAO, British Council, EEC, etc.

Diploma and M.Sc. students
take the same course and the same examination, the entry
requirements being the only difference. The two courses
have devel- oped from:
- The UNICEF-sponsored nutrition course with an academic
study in UK and a field study in Nigeria and Ghana. This
course terminated in 1967.
- A one-year Academic Post- graduate Diploma in Nutrition
(with more emphasis on biochemistry than the first one
and no field work)

The Programme in Inter-
national Nutrition offers four routes for studying in
this field, namely:
- a major in international nutrition at the master's or
doctoral level
- a minor in international nutrition at the master's or
doctoral level
- the Master of Professional Studies degree in inter-
national development with a concentration in inter-
national nutrition
- advanced study for the non-degree candidate

Initiated in 1974, the
Advanced Study Program me is designed primarily for
relatively senior persons from univer sities, research
institutes, and inter national agencies who are involved
in, or are likely to become involved in the planning,
imple mentation or evaluation of programmes designed to
combat malnutrition in low-income countries. These are
individually tailor-made study programmes utilizing the
full resources of the Boston area

INCAP, created as a regional
technical organisation, agreed in 1964 with the Uni-
versity San Carlos de Guatemala on the estab- lishment of
the "Centro de Estudios Superiores en Nutrición y
Ciencias de Alimentos" to enable the Institute to
award academic degrees of the University San Carlos de
Guatemala

These courses are sponsored
by SEAMED/ TROPMED (Southeast Asian Ministers of
Education Organisation/ Tropical Medicine Project) and
the Govern- ment of Indonesia SEAMED awards a limited
number of scholarships to participants of SEAMED
countries

Courses are sponsored by
PAHO/WHO (Pan American Health Organization) and the
United States Agency for International Develop meet. As
these are regional courses, policies and pro grammes
developed by dif ferent Caribbean govern meets are
discussed and so afford opportunity for comparing
different approaches

Advanced training
programmes in nutrition science: regional

NIGERIA

PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINES

Name

Certificate Course in Food
Science and Applied Nutrition

International Nutrition
Programme i.e.: International Course on Multi-Sectoral
Nutrition Planning and Implementation

Regional Training Programme
on Food and Nutrition Planning

Address

Department of Human
Nutrition, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria

Graduate University of the
Philippines at Los BaĄos (UPLB) College, Laguna 3720,
Philippines

Director Institutional
Affiliation

Prof. A. Omolulu The course
is organized at the Dept. of Human Nutrition, College of
Medicine, University of Ibadan

Dr. Delfina B. Aguillon
- Training staff is drawn from the National Nutrition
Council and its cooperating agencies and from higher
insti- tutions of learning
- Field work is included

Dr. N. Deomampo
- The course work is done at the Graduate School of the
University of the Philippines at Los BaĄos. The field
work is done in the region
- The programme is supported by FAO, WHO, and UNU

Language of Instruction

English

English

English

Intake

About 10 - 12 partici- pants

20 - 25 participants

Duration

One academic year (starting
in September)

Short-term trainings 2-5
weeks (held twice annually)

17 months (starting in June)

Admission Requirements

School certificate with some
professional training and some experience in field work

Depending upon the
programme: Post-graduate degree or B.Sc. degree in
Nutrition or in related field of study + a number of
years of work/field experience

- B.Sc. degree or equivalent
in Agriculture, Basic Sciences, Nutrition Statistics,
Home Economics, Food Science and Technology, Education or
Public Health
- Some years of practical experience
- Preference is given to applicants employed by their
government in the related field

Degree or Diploma Awarded

Certificate

Not applicable

Master of Professional
Studies, Food and Nutrition Planning

Additional Information

In 1963, the certificate
course was started as a UNICEF-sponsored course initially
taught between London and Ibadan. From 1968-1980, the
course was run by the Univer- sity of Ibadan. After
1979-1980, the programme was phased out and replaced by
undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes UNICEF,
WHO, FAO, and West African Health Communities sponsored
students of this course

Through short-term study
visits and specialized programs of study, the
International Nutrition Programme aims to foster
international and regional cooperation.
The programmes are conducted by the National Nutrition
Council

In 1978, this programme was
ini tiated by the International Course in Food Science
and Nutrition (ICFSN), Wageningen and the Netherlands
Universities Foundation for Inter national Cooperation
(NUFFIC). Before 1982, the duration of the training was
12 months.
The programme is sponsored by the Dutch Government, which
also offers fellowships to participants